Djinn Justice (The Collegium Book 2) Read Free

thundered.
    Fay smiled wryly. She was not so far gone in love to fail to recognize avoidance tactics when she observed them. Steve really didn’t want to discuss his grandparents and their likely reaction to her.
    Actually, nor did she.
    She went in search of coffee.
    Last night they’d flown in to Pafos, arriving in late evening and catching a cab out to Steve’s house as the shadows drew in. She’d seen Cyprus’s crowded tourist spots give way to wilder country and rougher roads before the cab stopped at a white house that stood stark against a dark sky and sea. Inside, Steve had switched on lights and brought the place to life, revealing a thoroughly modern home within old Art Deco walls. But her and Steve’s attention had been for each other, not the house.
    Now, Fay descended the black iron spiral staircase down to a living room crowded with books and comfortably outfitted with a leather sofa, a recliner and a huge television. Just beyond it was the kitchen. Fay followed the smell of coffee and poured herself a cup. The window faced a riotous garden, divided from the road by a stone wall low enough to jump over. Plants grew in cracks between the stones.
    She perched on a stool at the pale gray counter and studied the kitchen with its light wood cupboards and off-white walls. It was a very large kitchen for a single man. The table behind her could easily sit ten people. It made her uneasy. As much as she loved and trusted Steve, she didn’t know all of him yet.
    She’d thought him a solitary mercenary before he revealed himself the heir to the Suzerainty. Now she looked at what was obviously a rich man’s home, built to entertain, and wondered again. Did the solitary man she knew have another, sociable side?
    “What would you like to eat?” He bounded into the room, black hair still wet from his shower, a white t-shirt over khaki trousers—matching her. He’d dressed to reassure her.
    She smiled at him. “Do we need to go and buy food?”
    He stared, as if she’d said something ridiculous, and yanked open the fridge door. “No, Elena’s shopped.”
    Leaning sideways on her stool, Fay studied the full shelves in the fridge. Someone had certainly shopped.
    “Elena’s my housekeeper. I let her know we were coming.”
    “Oh.”
    “Her husband, Ivan, does the garden and looks after the boat and cars.”
    Fay blinked rapidly. Boat, and cars, plural? “Not to be crass, but how rich are you?”
    “Insanely.” He laughed at her. “Do you still love me?”
    “But you work as a mercenary!” She’d seen his penthouse apartment in New York, but she’d kidded herself that it was his family’s, not his personally.
    “And my sister, Liz, is a doctor. Being rich doesn’t stop you being bored.” He sobered. “Power without responsibility can corrode a person. My whole family works. The money is simply there to help us do what needs doing. Being the Suzerain…” He shook his head. “Full breakfast or toast?”
    “Toast.” She got up and took a loaf of bread and butter from him. She ate her crisp sourdough toast while he cooked a full breakfast for himself. Being the Suzerain was evidently complicated and if he wanted to ease her into learning what it meant, she trusted him.
    Although having a djinn in their lives was beyond complicated.
    Uncle had also said that whatever problem he wanted Steve to learn of from his grandparents, it involved Fay. For an instant, she sank her attention into her center and felt her magic in its tight, spiraling readiness. Reassured, she released that awareness and simply watched Steve eat, while she sipped her coffee.
    “More toast?” He was half-way through fried eggs, sausages and tomato.
    “No, thanks.” She hesitated. “Would you like some more?”
    He grinned at her. “Yeah.”
    She laughed and slipped off her stool to slice bread and toast it. The sharp bread knife had a smooth, balanced grip.
    “We’re going to be a bit pushed for time,” he said.
    “How